Vaporizing device



Sept. 7, 1937. w. A. MOLEAN VAPORIZING DEVICE Filed Oct. 1, 1955 I INVENTOR Zluzm A, cLean l Patented Sept. 7, 1937 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VAPORIZING DEVICE William A. McLean, Rochester, N. Y. Application October 1, 1935, Serial No. 43,003

6 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to spray nozzles and more particularly to nozzles of a refined type that vaporize a fluid fed under pressure thereto. and expel it very finely divided in the form of .a mist or cloud, and it has for its object to provide a simple, efiicient and easily: assembled device of this nature that can be produced economically at a low cost. The improvements are directed in part toward novel means for impart- Sl O ing a whirling motion tothe. liquid at the discharge orifice; toward means for producing a mutual impinging elfect between a plurality of sprays so that the particles will be finely broken up, and toward features that render the nozzle =*1-5 self-cleaning sothat it will automatically dislodge particles of impurities thatwould otherwise interfere with its functions.

' To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of :20 parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features'being pointed out in the claims: at the end of this specification.

I In the drawing:

.Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a spray device con- ;2 structed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2' is a longitudinal central section thereof withthe moving parts in normal or inc-perative positions;

20 Fig. 3 is a similar view, except that certain cylindrical parts bisected by the plane of the section are shown in elevation and the movable parts are in operative position as when the pressure is on and the nozzle in use;

r Fig. .4 is a cross. section on the line 4-4 of Fig.

2, looking in the direction of the arrow, and Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, also looking in the direction of the arrow.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, l indicates a nipple adapted to be fitted to a pipe line constituting the source of fluid supply. Threaded'onto a boss at its outer end at 2 is a shell or cylinder 3 having near its outer end a pair of internal shoulders 4 and 5 and at its outer end a relatively large outlet opening 6. Arranged to reciprocate in the cylinder under certain hereinafter named conditions is a nozzle tube 1 provided with a very fine discharge orifice 8 at its outer end. Opening 6 is. large enough to permit the projection therethrough of this end of the nozzle tube. The tube is normally held in the position of Fig. 2, that is, retracted toward the fluid intake connection I by an expansion spring 9- coiled about it. This spring is partly housed within a well ill in an enlargement l l of the tube and acts against the same reacting against shoulder 5 on the shell. The enlarged portion II has an accurate fit in the latter to 5 guide it in perfect alinement and is provided with a cavity l2 in its rear end, which we call a pressure accumulating chamber.

Into this chamber projects in spaced relation to its walls a plug l3 threaded at M into a coun- 10 ter bore in the nipple I, whereby it holds in place against the latter a wire or similar screen [5 adapted to intercept the larger solid impurities carried by the fluid stream. Ports H5 in the sides of the plug communicate with chamber I2, the plug being semi-tubular, and with the interior of the shell 3 in general, while in the end of the plug is a central or axial aperture ll. Through this aperture extends a headed member H3, in the present instance, a screw with its head on the inside and its shank threaded into a co-axial bore in a head l9.

This head has a close slip fit in the interior 1 of the nozzle tube 1 so that the two may work relatively in the manner of a cylinder and piston or a plunger. Projecting axially from the end of thehead is a needle 20 in alinement with the nozzle orifice 8 and adapted to slip into and out of the same with the relative movement of the tube. The periphery of the head, which is otherwise cylindrical, is cut in a plurality of interspersed helical grooves or passages with the lands i formed thereby resembling screw threads that have the actual bearing contact with the. nozzle tube walls. As stated, these lands are inter- 5 spersed and, in the present instance, there are three distinct sets of lands and grooves or threads, if they may be so called, the leads of which are indicated in the end view of the head in Fig. 5 at 2|, 22 and 23, and, of course, equally spaced circumferentially thereof. Thus, as in the present design, should there be twenty-four lands and grooves to the inch, the individual cuts thereof will run eight to the inch, as, indicated by the designation of the leads 2|, 22 and 23 in Fig. 3. The operation of the device is as follows:

When the supply is turned on, the parts are in the position of Fig. 2 with the needle 20 closing the orifice 8 veryclosely. The fluid entering the intake 24, of the nipple I passes screen l5 and thence enters the hollow plug l3. From thence through ports IE, it enters chamber I2 of the nozzle tube and the shell and builds up a pressure which pushes the nozzle tube out through the shell and against the tension of spring 9 to the position of Fig. 2, such movement of the tube 1 being limited by shoulder 4 on the shell. Such projection of the tube and the orifice 8 with- 5 draws the needle 28 therefrom, leaving it clear. Continued flow and pressure from this point causes the fiuid to follow the helical grooves 2|, '22, 23 in the head and emerge between the latter and the orifice. This gives the three streams at n that point a whirling motion of considerable magnitude, while at the same time they impinge against each other and emerge from the orifice in a. cloud of spray so fine that it is, in fact, a

vapor. When feeding pressure is relieved, the

parts resume their relative positions of Fig. 2

under the influence of spring 9, which again brings the needle 28 within the discharge orifice.

Thus, every operation of turning on and olf the fluid supply operates to clear the orifice 8 of any 20 possible obstructions and renders the nozzle selfcleaning, which result will also flow from any momentary reduction in pressure, such as frequently occurs in a force feed line for one reason or another. Of course, also, pressure that builds up in the space between the head and the end of the nozzle tube tends to hold the parts in operative position for relief through the orifice 8.

Turning to the details of the construction of the head 89, its holding screw very loosely fits no the aperture I! in the end of the plug l3 and its butt end is spaced from the latter (greatly exaggerated in the drawing) so that the head may rock on the screw head IS with a substantially universal movement, which makes it self-alining 13.; with its close fit in the tube 1 (shown out of contact in the drawing for the sake of clearness). Fhis correspondingly accurately alines the needle .20 with the discharge orifice 8. Furthermore, because of its relatively movable character within the tube, the head is self-cleaning with respect to the lodgment of impurities that might otherwise occur in the helical feed passage on its periphery, to which result the loose anchoring of the head on plug l3 also contributes. It may be 45 observed at this point that the said passage need not be as long as shown in the present instance to give the whirling effect described, that is, it need not continue throughout the length of the cylinder. A few turns of each thread or land at the tip gives very satisfactory results. The long passage shown, however, is useful as a resistance in cutting down pressure at the discharge orifice when the device is to be attached to a very high pressure feed line.

55 I have constructed small Vaporizers in accordance with this invention, wherein the diameter of the needle 20 is but ten one-thousandths of an inch (.01). It being impractical in manufacture to bore the end of the head on such a diam- 60 cter and produce in quantity, I have devised a simple and practical way of mounting the needle. This consists of inserting it in a short length of thermometer tube 25, which comes as fine as eleven thousandths of an inch (.011) inside 65 diameter. The head may be easily and rapidly drilled for this tube (.0625" outside diameter) and the tube is swedged therein after fusing the inner end of the needle into a ball 26 that is jammed by the process to hold the needle rigid.

In certain installations where water hammer, due to back pressures, would otherwise be apt to occur, I provide a check valve 21 in the supply passage 24 which prevents the vibration or chattering of the movable valve parts that 75 causes this.

It will be obvious that, in assembling, all of the movable parts can be dropped into the shell in the proper order from the supply end thereof, the plug I3 and its accessories assembled and screwed into the nipple l and then the shell simply screwed onto the nipple.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a vaporizing device, the combination with a shell having a fluid intake connection at one end and an outlet opening at the other, of a reciprocatory nozzle tube within the shell provided with a discharge orifice at the outlet opening, a relatively stationary head within the tube, a needle projecting from the head and adapted to work in and out of the orifice as the tube moves relatively thereto, the head being exteriorly screw threaded to form a feed passage and to impart a whirling motion to the fluid, the threads also cooperating with the tube in a guiding capacity, and means tending to normally maintain the needle in the orifice.

2. In a vaporizing device, the combination with a shell having a fluid intake connection at one end and an outlet opening at the other, of a reciprocatory nozzle tube Within the shell pro vided with a discharge orifice at the outlet opening, a relatively stationary head within the tube, a needle projecting from the head and adapted to work in and out of the orifice as the tube moves relatively thereto, the head being provided with a plurality of leads of screw threads on its exterior to form a feed passage and to impart a whirling motion to and impinging effect upon the fluid at the discharge orifice, the threads also cooperating with the tube in a guiding capacity, and means tending to normally maintain the needle in the orifice.

3. In a vaporizing device, the combination with a shell having a fluid intake connection at one end and an outlet opening at the other, of a reciprocatory nozzle tube within the shell provided with a discharge orifice at the outlet opening, a relatively stationary head within the tube, there being a feed passage past the head to the discharge orifice, and a needle projecting from the head and adapted to work in and out of the orifice as the tube moves relatively thereto, the head and tube being guided in one another otherwise than through cooperation of the needle with the orifice, said needle being anchored rigidly in a tubular socket and the end of the head being bored to receive and retain the socket.

4. In a vaporizing device, the combination with a shell having a'fluid intake connection at one end and an outlet opening at the other, of a reciprocatory nozzle tube within the shell provided with a discharge orifice at the outlet opening, a head within the tube upon which the latter slides,

there being a feed passage past the head to the discharge orifice, and a needle projecting from the head and adapted to work in and out of the orifice as the tube moves relatively thereto, the head being loosely interlocked with the intake connection and hence self centering with respect to the nozzle tube.

5. In a vaporizing device, the combination with a shell having a fluid intake connection at one end and an outlet opening at the other, the intake connection terminating in a plug holding I being a feed passage past the head to the discharge orifice, a supporting device for the head loosely engaged in the aperture of the plug to render the head self centering, and a needle projecting from the head and. adapted to work in and out of the orifice as the tube moves relatively thereto.

6. In a. vaporizing device, the combination with a shell having a fluid intake connection at one end and an outlet opening at the other, of a fice, a needle projecting from the head and adapted to work in and out of the orifice as the tube moves relative thereto, said needle having a diameter closely fitting the orifice to close said orifice when the needle is projected therein and prevent dripping of fluid therefrom, the head and tube being in guiding contact with each other independently of the needle, and a spring normally tending to actuate the tube so that the needle is normally in the orifice, the tube being projected against the tension of the spring to different degrees by pressure of fluid according to variations in the pressure thereof.

WILLIAM A. McLEAN. 

